Matt Kirsch Posted September 2 Share Posted September 2 Anybody have the valve stem fall off of a BRAND NEW Firestone natural rubber tube? Paid the extra for the good tube to go back on the 856. Things were going too well. The rim ran true without much fuss with the clamps. The tire went on without much of a fight. I just started airing it up to seat the bead. I'll bet there wasn't 5PSI in the tube yet, when I heard a FOOM! from inside the tire. Broke the tire down again. Valve stem had peeled clean off the tube. Pretty sure it's not anything I did. Worst part of the deal is there's nothing I can do about it until Tuesday, and by then I'll be done making hay for the year with any luck. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirt_Floor_Poor Posted September 2 Share Posted September 2 Are you sure it wasn’t in backwards? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Kirsch Posted September 2 Author Share Posted September 2 1 minute ago, Dirt_Floor_Poor said: Are you sure it wasn’t in backwards? Yes. It wasn't even pushing on the tire yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirt_Floor_Poor Posted September 2 Share Posted September 2 I haven’t seen failures like that, but I forgot what country the last Firestone tube I got was made in, it wasn’t the USA. It’s entirely possible that Firestone labeled tubes are now junk. I never changed tires for a living, but have changed more than most. I have seen lots of valve stems ripped off from improper installation, but even those usually took a couple of days to fail. A sign of the times I suppose. Tube sales cannot possibly be what they once were, so I guess it’s too much to expect them to be good quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gearclash Posted September 2 Share Posted September 2 Can’t say if it was a “natural rubber” tube or not but last summer I had a 6 month old Firestone tube lose the stem. 520/85R-42 so not a cheap tube. Reason number 239 why I avoid tubes at nearly any cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Kirsch Posted September 5 Author Share Posted September 5 UPDATE: Talked to the tire guy on the phone this morning, and he was as diplomatic as he could be, but told me that it was probably my fault. He had NEVER had a valve stem failure on the "good" Firestone tube that wasn't the installer's fault, but if I brought it down he'd look at it and if he couldn't warranty it, he'd sell me another tube at cost. Just got back from the tire dealer. He replaced the tube under warranty because the entire valve stem "patch" peeled clean off the tube. He told me that if they're installed wrong, they either split at the neck of the valve stem or the tube itself splits just outside the valve stem patch. So, vindication for me! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stronger800 Posted September 5 Share Posted September 5 Sounds real to me. I’ve had them (the good ones) fail in 2 years at the stem. That never happened ten years ago Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nate Posted September 5 Share Posted September 5 8 minutes ago, Matt Kirsch said: UPDATE: Talked to the tire guy on the phone this morning, and he was as diplomatic as he could be, but told me that it was probably my fault. He had NEVER had a valve stem failure on the "good" Firestone tube that wasn't the installer's fault, but if I brought it down he'd look at it and if he couldn't warranty it, he'd sell me another tube at cost. Just got back from the tire dealer. He replaced the tube under warranty because the entire valve stem "patch" peeled clean off the tube. He told me that if they're installed wrong, they either split at the neck of the valve stem or the tube itself splits just outside the valve stem patch. So, vindication for me! Sounds like you have a good tire dealer near you that it is worth paying a bit more at for the good service. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Kirsch Posted September 5 Author Share Posted September 5 3 minutes ago, nate said: Sounds like you have a good tire dealer near you that it is worth paying a bit more at for the good service. Agreed. If anyone is interested it's Freedom Tire in Arcade NY. Now owned by Larry Romance and Sons, but still run by the original owner, Andy. BTW, I forgot to mention that he had NEVER seen the entire valve stem peel off a Firestone Natural Rubber tube like that. That's why he gave me the warranty. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmi Posted September 5 Share Posted September 5 yes we had at install and several days later stem failure,on dealer install . including total failure,never got to examine ,paid for the afters, and never asked if warranty was worth the hassle on others? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bitty Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 On 9/2/2023 at 4:30 PM, Gearclash said: ..... Reason number 239 why I avoid tubes at nearly any cost. We hate tubes and avoid at all cost using them also. Our current dealer has been in business for about 20 years and the previous tire guy we used had no quality tubes available either starting around 25+ years ago. Our tubes tires account for the majority of issues here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ihfan4life Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 7 hours ago, Matt Kirsch said: UPDATE: Talked to the tire guy on the phone this morning, and he was as diplomatic as he could be, but told me that it was probably my fault. He had NEVER had a valve stem failure on the "good" Firestone tube that wasn't the installer's fault, but if I brought it down he'd look at it and if he couldn't warranty it, he'd sell me another tube at cost. Just got back from the tire dealer. He replaced the tube under warranty because the entire valve stem "patch" peeled clean off the tube. He told me that if they're installed wrong, they either split at the neck of the valve stem or the tube itself splits just outside the valve stem patch. So, vindication for me! I wonder if someone could place a patch around the valve stem to prevent this…? Cut a hole in the patch large enough to allow the stem to go through and apply it…idk, just a thought 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bitty Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 50 minutes ago, Ihfan4life said: I wonder if someone could place a patch around the valve stem to prevent this…? Cut a hole in the patch large enough to allow the stem to go through and apply it…idk, just a thought I've been told that the natural rubber inner tubes are thicker than the others but aren't very patchable. If they get a nail hole it rips wide open. Not sure if it would take a different patch glue or patch for it to hold ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1256pickett Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 8 hours ago, Matt Kirsch said: Agreed. If anyone is interested it's Freedom Tire in Arcade NY. Now owned by Larry Romance and Sons, but still run by the original owner, Andy. BTW, I forgot to mention that he had NEVER seen the entire valve stem peel off a Firestone Natural Rubber tube like that. That's why he gave me the warranty. Good to know. I have real good relationship with local tire shop but they have gotten away from larger ag tires. If they stand behind things it’s worth a call to see if they’ll come down to Chautauqua county next time I got need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Binderoid Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 11 hours ago, Ihfan4life said: I wonder if someone could place a patch around the valve stem to prevent this…? Cut a hole in the patch large enough to allow the stem to go through and apply it…idk, just a thought Never heard of this happening before but since it seems to come off so easily, I think I would blow up the tube oversize beforehand to test it. I sure can see how one can be at the mercy of the tire company, arguing over this issue… to answer your question yes , I have done that within the last month. With what tubes cost, none get thrown away; after they are no longer airworthy they get cut up for other uses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Kirsch Posted September 6 Author Share Posted September 6 11 hours ago, Ihfan4life said: I wonder if someone could place a patch around the valve stem to prevent this…? Cut a hole in the patch large enough to allow the stem to go through and apply it…idk, just a thought In this case it was a defect in manufacturing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TroyDairy Posted September 7 Share Posted September 7 16 hours ago, Matt Kirsch said: In this case it was a defect in manufacturing. Fwiw my tire guy will do anything to avoid tubes too. Just ridiculous the poor quality today 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
db1486 Posted September 9 Share Posted September 9 On 9/5/2023 at 8:46 PM, bitty said: I've been told that the natural rubber inner tubes are thicker than the others but aren't very patchable. If they get a nail hole it rips wide open. Not sure if it would take a different patch glue or patch for it to hold ? I've never run in to that issue. I have found that if a synthetic rubber tube gets a hole might as well throw it in the garbage because once you start patching them you don't stop. Fluid in a synthetic tube doesn't seem to last long from my experience either. I have patched natural rubber tubes and put fluid back in and last for many years too. I didn't actually know Firestone still makes tubes. I bet it's been 15 years since we used one. Michelin is the only natural rubber tube I've gotten since, from any tire shop I've gone to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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